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Loveland Fire Rescue Authority's Lt. Rene Macias to climb for a cause

By Jessica Maher Reporter-Herald Staff Writer

Posted:
03/05/2013 05:19:03 PM MST

Loveland Fire Rescue Authority Lt. Rene Macias leans against one of Fire Station No. 2's trucks as he explains his plans to participate Sunday in the 2013 Scott Firefighter Stair Climb, which raises money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
(Timothy Hurst)

And if that still sounds too easy, he'll be dressed in full firefighter gear that weighs about 60 pounds.

Macias will travel to Seattle to represent Loveland — and all of Northern Colorado — in the 2013 Scott Firefighter Stair Climb, which pits firefighters across the globe against each other for a race to the top of the 69-story, 1,311-step Columbia Center.

The annual event raises money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, which brought in $1.2 million last year for blood-disease research and patient services.

“I need to finish it for the purpose of the fundraiser,” Macias said. “If I happen to do well, that's just bonus.”

Macias' cousin, Robert Cruz, was diagnosed at age 28 with leukemia. Because Cruz lives in Chicago, Macias said he hasn't always been able to help as much as he wanted to from Colorado.

The Scott Firefighter Stair Climb provided him that opportunity.

Macias has tried to participate in the climb for the past five or six years, but the event consistently and quickly books to capacity with participants from hundreds of departments. But Macias felt this was his year — he took a gamble and bought a plane ticket and made hotel reservations ahead of time.

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Around the same time that Macias was trying to register for the event, he received news that his girlfriend's grandmother, Betty Kettler, had been diagnosed with multiple myeloma.

“She became my motivation,” Macias said. “I think there's no greater tribute; something important I can do is participate in that event.”

To train, Macias has spent the past months doing serious cardio workouts (with and without his full gear), he's made a return to bike racing and he has participated in the intense cyclo-cross arena. The Feb. 24 Fighting for Air climb in Denver, which raised money for the American Lung Association, provided a training opportunity for Macias at 56 flights of stairs. He finished in 16 minutes and 38 seconds.

Macias' girlfriend, Kinzie Kettler, has also been training for the integral role she'll play in Sunday's race. Participants race up 40 flights of stairs on one air tank and then a partner — Kettler, in this case — switches out the tank to replenish air supply for the remaining floors. They've gotten it down to about a 30-second switch, and while Kettler said the practice has resulted in a lot of broken nails, it's been worthwhile.

“Initially I thought that it was a very interesting firefighter-driven kind of competition and I was very proud of him for taking on that challenge,” she said. “But it's also for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and it hit close to home because of my grandma ... it really made it even more special.”

“I, along with the rest of our department, are very proud of Rene and the effort he has put forth,” Mirowski said. “He's doing this for such a great cause and the people who will ultimately be helped by this is really something special.”

Macias has raised more than $1,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society on his way to Seattle, and the society will continue to accept donations for the event through March 29. To contribute, visit the society's website at www.llswa.org and search Macias' name under the Scott Firefighter Climb.

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